Silicon Pore Optics

TL;DR

Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) utilizes advanced silicon wafer technology to create lightweight, high-resolution X-ray mirrors, enabling large space telescopes and potential applications in gamma-ray, medical, and material research.

Contribution

This paper presents the development and potential of SPO as a scalable, high-precision X-ray mirror technology based on semiconductor industry techniques.

Findings

SPO achieves 5 arc second angular resolution.

SPO is suitable for space telescopes like Athena and ARCUS.

Potential for applications beyond X-ray astronomy.

Abstract

Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) uses commercially available monocrystalline double-sided super-polished silicon wafers as a basis to produce mirrors that form lightweight high-resolution X-ray optics. The technology has been invented by cosine Measurement Systems and the European Space Agency (ESA) and developed together with scientific and industrial partners to mass production levels. It leverages techniques and processes developed over decades by the semiconductor industry to handle, process, and clean silicon wafers and plates. SPO is an enabling technology for large space-borne X-ray telescopes such as Athena and ARCUS, operating in the 0.2 to 12 keV band, with angular resolution aiming for 5 arc seconds. SPO has also shown to be a versatile technology that can be further developed for gamma-ray optics, medical applications and for material research.